At the heart of Washington, D.C., during the Interfaith Conference United in Liberty: The Rise of Spiritual Diplomats, we had a pleasure talking to Rabbi Asher Lopatin, Rabbi of Kehillat Etz Chayim in Detroit and Director of Community Relations at the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor.
In this powerful and deeply thoughtful conversation, Rabbi Lopatin reflects on the true meaning of spiritual diplomacy — not only as leadership by clergy and faith representatives, but as the responsibility of every individual to bring their highest spiritual values into conversations about peace, freedom, and human dignity.
Drawing from his experience as a rabbi and global community leader, Rabbi Lopatin speaks about:
• Why love and peace must be the starting point of diplomacy
• How faith communities can move from dialogue to real-world action
• The importance of unity across religious traditions
• Translating belief into courageous, practical steps for global impact
With humility, conviction, and warmth, Rabbi Lopatin emphasizes that deeply committed people of faith — Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and beyond — can stand together in shared purpose without compromising their beliefs. His message is clear: spiritual conviction must lead to meaningful action.
This interview is a reminder that unity does not require uniformity — and that respect, dignity, and love for humanity remain the strongest foundations for peace.